Ali Abdelaziz of Dominance MMA Management has a lot at stake in this weekend’s UFC 300 PPV event. He has 5 of his clientele fighting on the card. Justin Gaethje, Cody Garbrandt, Marina Rodriguez, Jéssica Andrade, and Kayla Harrison . However, it’s the weight-cut issues of new signing Harrison that remains a talking point for everyone. Abdelaziz, consequently, puts his whole trust in her, comparing her with Ronda Rousey .
Most said fighters, or their camp and management, have done social media rounds going into UFC 300 official Fight Week. Abdelaziz sat down with Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports for the same. The news of her facing Holly Holm took fight fans and netizens by storm. Concerns about her weight drop do not worry Abdelaziz.
At the end of the day, she’s a two-time Olympic champion, two-time PFL champion... never missed weight, make 145 during COVID in her room, you know what I’m saying? She will make weight and listen, at the end of the day, just tune in...She’ll get a title shot, become a UFC champion. We have a Ronda Rousey on steroids, that’s what we have... Ali Abdelaziz to Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports (@KevinIole)
Harrison cuts down weight from nearly 172 lbs. With no more WMMA featherweight division in the UFC, Harrison’s title hopes will only happen in the bantamweight division. However, she recently told Iole that she underwent clinical measurements for a thorough test cut. While not a proper sportsman nomenclature, where many are pinned for PED usage, Abdelaziz labels her ‘Ronda Rousey’ on steroids.
Meaning she would be potent yet buff enough to outdo ‘Rowdy’ in her prime. Making her debut at PFL 2, Harrison boasts many feats. In a recent interview with TMZ Sports. Rousey and Harrison came from a Judo background. However, it remains to be seen if Harrison impacts the UFC the same way Rousey did.
Kayla Harrison-versus-Ronda Rousey: Who does it better?
MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz recently scoffed at concerns about Kayla Harrison’s weight cut being an issue before her debut. Harrison, the former PFL lightweight champion is the talk of the town for quite a hot moment. However, Abdelaziz went into overdrive stating she would surpass Rounda Rousey by a long shot. She fights Holly Holm at UFC 300 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In light of that, let’s check the thin line between the two:
Ronda Rousey, 12-2-0, was the first female combatant at UFC 157. The first American woman Olympic judoka to win bronze at the 2008 Summer Olympics, she became the inaugural women’s bantamweight champ and held the most UFC title defenses (6). She won gold at the 2007 Pan American Games and silver at the 2007 World Judo Championships. She’d left ‘King of the Cage‘ to join Strikeforce MMA and became the last women’s bantamweight titleholder before UFC.
Two-time Olympian Judoka Harrison trained with Rousey. Changing from the –63 kg division to the –78 kg, she won the 2008 Junior World Championship. She won golds at the 2010 World Championships, 2012 and 2016 Olympics.
Just like Rousey, she’s a 6th dan black belt Judoka with IJF Grand Slam/Grand Prix and & World Championships. She was even elected to the United States Judo Federation Hall Of Fame following her 2nd gold medal. In terms of MMA legacy, Rousey has better accomplishments now. The conversations could change if Harrison wins the bantamweight gold in the UFC.
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